The Stock Dove. 53 



CHAPTER V. 



THE STOCK DOVE, 



(Columba (znas.) 



"\ T 7E were walking one day along a grassy ride in 

 a forest, flanked on either side by spreading 

 oaks and beeches, the tall stems of which rose high 

 above the rich undergrowth of hollies, while here 

 and there a gnarled old birch stood apart from the 

 rest. Pursuing our way along the mossy track we 

 carefully examined each tree, and presently observed 

 high up in the trunk of a decaying birch a large 

 round hole. There was no response as we tapped at 

 the base of the stem, so taking a dead branch, lying 

 hard by, we threw it up at the hole, and immediately 

 out peeped the head and shoulders of a Stock Dove. 

 No sooner did the bird appear than it saw us, and 

 after a moment's hesitation darted with a rush and 



